Proschwitz Castle Rosé

Dry, firm, and fruit-fresh: this rosé relies on structure instead of pleasantness. With 11.5% vol, it has body without seeming heavy.

The grape varieties Regent and Frühburgunder give it a red fruit with a bit more weight than you know from many light rosé wines. Regent is a fungus-resistant red wine variety and brings color and pull, while the Frühburgunder contributes the fine Burgundy fruit. The location in Saxony ensures a cool, clear tone. As a quality wine from the Elbe Valley, it thus differs from the softer, often sweetly rounded rosé wines that are common in this category. The screw cap keeps it uncomplicated to handle.

It pairs well with salad because its acidity picks up vinaigrette and freshness without the wine becoming thin. With seafood, the dry nature plays out its strength: it lets the fine sweetness of shrimp or mussels stand and provides a clear counterpoint with its freshness.

An antipasti platter with olives, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables gets along with the wine because acidity and body also catch salty and spicy notes. Serve it at 10–12 °C.

As an aperitif, it is suitable for summer evenings on the terrace and for the start of a meal with friends. It also has its place on mild early autumn days when you are still sitting outside and want something fresh in your glass.

All three alternatives are dry rosé wines from Germany, but they come from other regions and rely on other grape varieties.

• Hammel & Cie Der mit dem Rosé tanzt trocken comes from the Palatinate and combines five grape varieties, including Dornfelder and St. Laurent. It is the better choice if you are looking for a cuvée from several varieties.
• Philipp Kuhn Philipps Rose also comes from the Palatinate and unites, among others, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Blaufränkisch. It fits if you prefer a cuvée with international grape varieties.
• Künstler Spätburgunder Rose from the Rheingau is a single-varietal Spätburgunder. Reach for it if you want a rosé from only one grape variety.